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Major candidates to make Sarasota stops

With two months left before Election Day, both Democrat and Republican candidates will be campaigning in Sarasota for votes.

The Republican Party of Sarasota County will host a large barbecue at 3:30 p.m., Sept. 11, at Robarts Arena featuring U.S. senate candidate Marco Rubio, U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, gubernatorial candidate Rick Scott and his nominee for lieutenant governor, Jennifer Carroll, attorney general candidate Pam Bondi and CFO candidate Jeff Atwater.

Several local Republican candidates, such as county commissioners Nora Patterson and Joe Barbetta also will attend.

On the Democratic side, the Sarasota County Democratic Party will host U.S. senate candidate Kendrick Meek at 12:45 p.m., Sept. 10, at the New Bethel Baptist Church at 2504 Gillespie Ave., in Sarasota.

Scott Maddox, candidate for commissioner of agriculture and consumer services will speak at 7 p.m., Sept. 15, at the Waldemere Fire Station at 2070 Waldemere St. in Sarasota.

And gubernatorial candidate Alex Sink will come to town for a fundraiser Sept. 19.

Joe Gruters, executive director of the Republican Party of Sarasota County, said candidates want to come to Sarasota because they know their rallies will be full of people and because statewide candidates do not win their elections without carrying Sarasota County.

Rita Ferrandino, Sarasota County Democratic Party chairwoman, said Democratic candidates see Sarasota County has important, because of its more moderate voting trends in recent elections.